An occlusion catheter system for full or partial occlusion of a vessel includes an occlusion balloon. The balloon is positioned in a folded, uninflated configuration around a central shaft, a proximal shaft, and a distal shaft of the occlusion catheter system, having an outer diameter less than seven French. The balloon is constructed of a semi-compliant or non-compliant material and is sized to have a blown diameter between approximately ten percent to sixty percent greater than the inner diameter of the vessel, whereby an outer surface of the balloon comes into full diametric contact with an inner surface of the vessel upon partial inflation of the balloon and folds are formed in the outer surface of the balloon. The folds define flow channels with inner surfaces of the vessel or with portions of the outer surface of the balloon that allow partial blood flow past the balloon.

Described herein is a shock wave device for the treatment of vascular occlusions. The shock wave device includes an outer covering and an inner member inner connected at a distal end of the device. First and second conductive wires extend along the length of the device within the volume between the outer covering and the inner member. A conductive emitter band circumscribes the ends of the first and second wires to form a first spark gap between the end of the first wire and the emitter band and a second spark gap between the end of the second wire and the emitter band. When the volume is filled with conductive fluid and a high voltage pulse is applied across the first and second wires, first and second shock waves can be initiated from the first and second spark gaps.

A system includes an injection device that is configured to be fluidly coupled to the catheter and a sensing device that is configured to sense an injected volume of fluid in the inflatable balloon of the catheter. A controller is coupled by a wired or wireless communication link to the sensing device to receive an injected volume signal from the sensing device. The controller is configured to determine an actuation pressure based on the injected volume of the fluid in the inflatable balloon. A pressure relief valve is fluidly coupled to the catheter and coupled by a wired or wireless communication link to the controller. The controller is configured to adjust the actuation pressure of the pressure relief valve based on the injected volume of the fluid in the inflatable balloon.

A safety balloon catheter includes a catheter having a stretch valve, a connector, a balloon inflated with an inflation fluid, a hollow inflation lumen extending through the catheter to the balloon and conveying inflation fluid thereto and therefrom, a hollow second lumen, and a balloon drainage port fluidically connecting the balloon to the second lumen. The stretch valve has a hollow base fixed in the second lumen at a proximal catheter end and shaped to permit a fluid therethrough and a hollow plug slidably positioned in the second lumen at a given distance from the base to, in a steady state, prevent inflation fluid from passing through the drainage port and, when actuated, slide within the second lumen to permit inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port and into the second lumen. The connector connects the base and the plug and has a length greater than the given distance.

The invention provides medical device for insertion into a body cavity such as the urinary bladder, and for the release of substances into the cavity. The device includes a core and an expandable balloon surrounding the core. The balloon wall is made from an elastic permeable material. When the balloon is empty, the balloon wall is stretched and applied to a surface of the core. A valve allows introductions of one or more fluids between the wall of the balloon and the surface of the core. The invention also provides a system including the device of the invention and one or more instruments for inserting the device into the body cavity or retrieving the device from the body cavity.

Expandable intubation assemblies and methods for using and making the same are provided.

One aspect of the invention provides a sheath including: a cylinder defining a central passage; a balloon located along an external surface of a distal end of the cylinder, the balloon lying substantially flush with or recessed from the external surface when deflated, but capable of projecting beyond the external surface when inflated; and an inflation port located at a proximal end of the cylinder, the inflation port in fluid communication with the balloon. Another aspect of the invention provides a kit including: a sheath as described herein and instructions for use.

Expandable intubation assemblies and methods for using and making the same are provided.

A dilator includes a tube including a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen therethrough. The proximal end includes a connector configured to connect to an inflation device. The dilator includes a balloon disposed between the proximal end and the distal end. The balloon is configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state, wherein the device is insertable into a body passage of a subject in need thereof.

Imaging apparatus, atherectomy devices, systems, and methods of operation thereof are disclosed. The imaging apparatus further comprises one or more light transmittable windows defined along the dividing layer and a catheter outlet port defined along a ventral side of the catheter body. The catheter outlet port allows the guidewire to advance out of the second catheter lumen and the catheter outlet port is aligned with at least one of the light transmittable windows such that the guidewire is within a field of view of the imaging component when the guidewire extends partially though the catheter outlet port. The atherectomy device can comprise a tubular housing and an inflatable balloon coupled to an exterior side of the tubular housing. The tubular housing includes a cutting window and a rotatable cutter configured to debulk the atherosclerotic material extending into the cutting window. The inflatable balloon can comprise a lumen in fluid communication with the housing lumen such that fluid introduced into the housing lumen via the catheter lumen inflates the inflatable balloon.